Dr. George Homer Porter III

I was very sad when I learned of George Porter's passing, Friday, November 17. Since my retirement from Ochsner in 2013, I have often thought of George since he was instrumental in bringing me to Ochsner where my research was the most productive in my career.

The last time I saw him was at my retirement party in December 2013 where both George and Dick Re honored me with kind words regarding my twenty eight year career at Ochsner. Thanks to George's enthusiastic and generous support, I was able to establish an internationally recognized immunology research laboratory and to raise fifteen million dollars for a new research building, currently the Benson Cancer Center.

George had the extraordinary foresight to expand Ochsner Clinic Foundation to include an academic research facility. With the assistance of Dick Re, who was recruited from the Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, he set aside generous seed money to build an institute of molecular medicine in the South.

George was an outstanding leader in the community of academic hospitals. Furthermore, he contributed to the future expansion of Ochsner by investing in real estate in areas surrounding the Hospital, invaluable land not flooded by Hurricane Katrina. No doubt Ochsner is harvesting great benefits from his early investments.

While he was much occupied with the daily administrative duties, he had taken a keen interest in AIDS research, attending the International AIDS Conference.

I am very grateful for his support of my scientific career. On several occasions he invited me to dinners at Commanders Palace or Clancy's enquiring about the progress of my research. I cherished our private meetings immensely. It was fortuitous for our paths to cross as George sought to bring academic research to Ochsner and I was eager to launch my independent research. I will miss him very much.

Yong Sung Choi, MD. Ph.D.
Retired, Distinguished Investigator
Ochsner Medical Foundation

I've only know Dr. Porter for a year and a half, working here at Ochsner. He was the most pleasant and humble person anyone would want to meet. I will will miss Dr. Porter each day coming into the Physician Dining Area. I'm glad I had the opportunity to meet such a Great Person. May God Bless and give you all strength during your time of Sorrow.

I wanted to send my deepest heartfelt condolences to the family and friends may his memory be a blessing to those that knew and loved him

George was a wonderful and caring man who
will be missed by us all.

TO THE FAMILY OF THE LATE DR. GEORGE PORTER III I SEND MY CONDOLENCES AND PRAYERS

He was an exceptionally fine physician as well as a great friend and leader.
G James Fruthaler, MD.